Indonesian version of Windows XP launched

Indonesian version of Windows XP launched

Tony Hotland, Jakarta

Aiming to help narrow the technology gap among Indonesians,
Microsoft Indonesia officially launched the Indonesian language
version of its flagship Windows XP operating system here on
Thursday.

Microsoft Indonesia president Tony Chen said that language
differences had been a major obstacle for Indonesians when
absorbing information technology.

"If we can help by providing Indonesian language software to
help them understand the technology, why not? It's important, as
less than 5 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people are
computer literate," he said.

However, the local version has yet to be fully developed, for
only the contents in the interface system and Windows Explorer
have been translated.

No content in the application systems, such as Microsoft
Office and its elements like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel,
or other systems, have yet been translated.

"We're still at the language interface pack (LIP) localization
level. The highest is full localization, in which all of the
system will have been translated. I cannot predict when we'll get
there though," Tony said.

The next element to be translated, he added, was Microsoft
Office, scheduled for completion in December.

Microsoft Indonesia has been working since August 2003 in
partnership with the Bandung Institute of Technology, software
developer Andal Software and the Ministry of National Education's
language center to put together the version.

For those who already have a computer with a Microsoft system
(whether original or pirated), the local version can be
downloaded from www.microsoft.com/Indonesia.

For those who want to buy a new computer, this version can be
included when purchasing Microsoft software, at no extra cost.

Localization of its software system is Microsoft's latest
global move, especially in emerging markets in developing
countries, to curb rampant piracy and compete with open-source
alternatives, which can be downloaded at no cost but are less
user-friendly than Microsoft.

Microsoft Indonesia desktop product manager Wesly Sumenap told
The Jakarta Post that competition was a healthy factor in the
industry and it was up to consumers to choose whatever product
they wished to use.

The first southeast Asian country with Windows XP, with both
Home Edition and Professional Edition fully localized, was
Thailand in 2003. Microsoft sells the combined software for only
1,500 baht (US$38). English Windows XP Home is sold for 4,500
baht ($114) and Professional for 15,000 baht ($380).

Tony refused to disclose the projected price of the fully
localized version of Indonesian Windows XP, saying that the
process still had a long way to go.

At present, an original copy of Microsoft's Windows XP costs
$99 and Microsoft Office costs $149.

Tony also acknowledged that some difficulty would exist for
Windows users who are already used to the English version, but
gave an assurance that it would be only a matter of time before
people would get accustomed to the local version.